Colin Randall 
As Boro coasted to victory against SAFC in the FA Cup, Gary Bennett could be heard tellng listeners to the BBC Radio Newcastle commentary that it was the travelling supporters – no fewer than 4,476 – he felt sorry for. One of them was our own Pete Sixsmith, who emailed his report with a GLUM reference to another ‘depressing and dispiriting’ day. At least the SAFC Ladies team won (3-0 vs Birmingham), prompting my mischievous tweet:
— Colin Randall (@salutsunderland) January 7, 2018
Back in November, the Sunderland Echo‘s thoughtful columnist Tony Gillan posed the interesting question: “Are Jan Kirchhoff’s legs so wonky that he couldn’t be offered a rolling contract?
John McCormick writes: As always, we packed out the away end. As almost always, the team conceded early. From then it was the same old story and now our cup run (such as it was) is over.
Pete Sixsmith’s instant seven word text gives us the bones right now; tomorrow his report will tell us just how much Chris Coleman needs a salvation army to arrive in the next 25 days.
Pete Sixsmith has already produced a “first time” post for ‘Boro away so I’m using his usual spot to bring you an update on the progress of the clubs our pre-season poll predicted would be the top six. (Over 8,000 votes were cast. If you’re new to the series or wish to catch up you might try some of the links at the bottom of the page).
The clubs were:
Middlesbrough,
Aston Villa,
Fulham,
Sheff Wed,
Leeds,
Sunderland
Pete Sixsmith‘s search for a regular football fix takes him to some odd games and odder places. But at least joining a crowd in small three figures to watch Sunderland Under 23s at Stockton in the Durham Challenge Cup brought him the spectacle of a Sunderland win …
Monsieur Salut writes: just as well I have Boro-supporting relatives. Another Boro fan, exiled down south and writing about another Championship side for a living, had instantly agreed to sit in the Who are You? hot seat only to let us down a few days later (no names as he may have a good excuse). But my nephew Andy Falconer, who did a good job of answering the questions back in November, came up with a pal, Alex Gunn*, who readily stepped into the defector’s shoes … he thinks Boro will win but offers us two consolation prizes: nominating Sunderland for an imaginary ‘loudest away support’ award and saying we’ll scrape 21st place, ie survive …
For Paul Summerside, the time is right to wish a happy 2018 to all at Salut! Sunderland and its Facebook page – and to reflect on “Groundhog Day. 2017 revisited”. It’s hardly an open letter to Ellis Short, more a quick reminder that if we set aside changes in personnel, what is needed now if Sunderland are to avoid a humiliating drop into the third tier is pretty much what was needed a year ago …
Now that the players have presumably recovered from having supped far too many soft drinks on New Year’s Eve to be able to compete with Barnsley next day, there is that annual (for us) dilemma: do we really want to add an FA Cup run to a challenging fixtures list?
Monsieur Salut’s heart says yes, the head isn’t so sure.
Tuesday night’s result from Reading has, after all that ludicrous hope inspired by Sunderland’s win at Forest, dumped us at the bottom of the table.
Instead of being 19th, the prize had we beaten Barnsley, we look more likely to have to make do for another season without one of our favourite Who Are You? interviewees, Bernard Ramsdale, whose beloved Wigan will replace us in the Championship unless matters improve.
John McCormick writes: with about ten minutes to go I was just about to write a headline in when Pete Sixsmith sent a seven-word text. Did it make me change what I was going to put? Not at all.
You can read what Pete wrote below and I bet you agree with both him and myself.
John McCormick writes: Pete Sixsmith takes me into new territory with this trip down memory lane. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Barnsley play, neither at home nor away. There’s no reason for that, apart from the fact that I was seven or eight the first time they came to Roker, and had been living away from the area for a good few years the next time they turned up. And now, here they are again and I’m still not there …